Denver Moore
“Same Kind of Different as Me”
Fort Worth, TX USA
"Things don’t come to those who wait. They’re captured by those who have the courage enough to attack that situation. You can turn anything around if you want to."
Career Roadmap
Denver's work combines: Writing, Non-Profit Organizations, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
Did Not Complete
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I was born in rural Louisiana and was raised on a plantation by my aunt and uncle.
2.
Instead of going to school, I worked for credit at the company store to buy necessities.
3.
When I got older, I left home and hopped a train to Fort Worth, Texas—I lived in Fort Worth for a while, moved on to Los Angeles for a few years, and then went back to Louisiana.
4.
I was living in a homeless camp when I was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to 20 years in prison—I worked for the warden and was released after about 10 years.
5.
After being released from prison, I moved back to Fort Worth where I spent another 20 years homeless.
6.
In 1998, I met Ron and Debbie Hall, who were hoping to befriend a homeless person who would help them change the state of the city—we eventually became friends.
7.
I spoke about Mrs. Hall’s kindness towards me as a homeless man at her funeral—it was the catalyst for millions of dollars raised to build a new homeless mission.
8.
Ron and I co-wrote a book about our story, which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was homeless and living on the streets in Fort Worth, Texas, for over 25 years. Eventually, encouraged by his wife, a man spent time trying to befriend me. We became friends and co-wrote a book together. The friendship was life-changing.
While homeless, I was arrested for attempted robbery and sentenced to 20 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, one of the biggest and most violent prisons. I was released after about 10 years.